268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



quantity of manure applied is proportionately large, so that 

 there is an abundance within five inches of the surface to supply 

 the wants of the crop, and the balance is brought to the surface 

 at the next ploughing. Their soil is a deep, sandy loam, with a 

 subsoil that differs very little from the surface, except in its 

 admixture with vegetable matter and cultivation. 



In our climate, where we have but a few weeks in the spring 

 to perform the various operations of carting out the winter accu- 

 mulation of manure, ploughing and preparing the land for the 

 crop, planting, sowing, &c., it is very desirable to do as much in 

 the autumn as possible to relieve the pressure on those few 

 exceedingly busy weeks. For that reason, if for no other, we 

 would jecommend to every New England farmer to do as much 

 of his plouglnng in the fall as he can find time to accomplish. 

 Then he is comparatively at leisure, his teams are in good con- 

 dition, the weather is cool, and both man and beast can perform 

 more labor with less fatigue than in the spring. 



Greensward should be turned in August or September, when 

 the grass roots are in full vigor, and the weather is warm 

 enough to produce immediate fermentation and decomposition 

 of the vegetable matter contained in the sward. If not done as 

 early as September, it should be left until late in the spring, 

 when the grass is well started. We have for several years pre- 

 pared our ground for oats and early potatoes in the fall, and 

 have consequently been able to sow and plant as soon as the 

 ground has thawed to a sufficient depth to allow the use of the 

 harrow. The result has always been satisfactory. The earliest 

 sown oats, other things being equal, have never failed to produce 

 the best crop. 



No doubt something may be done in the way of destroying 

 worms and insects injurious to vegetation, that take up their 

 winter quarters in the ground, by ploughing late in the fall. 

 In that case, it is desirable to expose as much of the soil to the 

 action of the frost as possible. In all fall ploughing we have 

 found the best results from laying the furrow slice as nearly on 

 edge as possible, or in other words, to expose the edge as well 

 as the bottom of the slice to the action of the atmosphere. If 

 any manure is left about the buildings, this is an excellent time 

 to apply it to the newly ploughed ground. The frost and rains 

 of winter will thoroughly dissolve and incorporate it with the 



